Philosophy 333: Ethics - Recently Updated Pages

Philosophy 333: Ethics Home

Cregan — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:17:21 CST

Choosing a Topic and Starting Research Reference Books	Find Journal Articles Databases : places to find journal articles (from Potter Library) Journal Finder: locate a journal TITLE that we have in full-text Forgot how to use the library databases ? Try this tutorial
Find Books George T. Potter Library From other libraries Forgot how to search for books at Ramapo? Try this tutorial	Help with Citing Sources Avoid plagiarism: help with citing sources Forgot how to evaluate websites?Try this tutorial
Useful Websites Reliable websites to use Forgot how to evaluate websites?Try this tutorial	Additional Help! Contact Me: Leigh Keller Email: lkeller1@ramapo.edu Phone: 201.684.7316 Go to the reference desk! Hours: Mon-Thurs 9-10pm: Friday 9-5pm: Sat. 10-2pm: Sunday 2-10 pm Call the reference desk 201.684.7574 Ask your question online QandA NJ 24/7 online reference service Having technical problems Call 201.684.7777 Using Interlibrary Loan? Forms for Articles and Books

Web Resources

Cregan — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:16:07 CST

Using Websites Care must be taken in searching for information on the Interenet. These sources have not necessarily been published by reputable academic publishers or librarians with an expertise in their subject area. Nearly anything can be posted on a website, and just because it is available online does not mean it is valid or authoritative. When you find a site of interest, evaluate it carefully and ask yourself the following questions: Who is the author of the site? Are the author's credentials listed? What institution or organization is behind the site? When was the site created or last updated? Who is the intended audience? Is the information provided objective or biased? How does information provided by the site compare to other works, including print?

Using Websites

Care must be taken in searching for information on the Interenet. These sources have not necessarily been published by reputable academic publishers or librarians with an expertise in their subject area. Nearly anything can be posted on a website, and just because it is available online does not mean it is valid or authoritative.

When you find a site of interest, evaluate it carefully and ask yourself the following questions:

Who is the author of the site? Are the author's credentials listed?

What institution or organization is behind the site?

When was the site created or last updated?

Who is the intended audience?

Is the information provided objective or biased?

How does information provided by the site compare to other works, including print?

Some Useful Websites The Rights Philosophy Forum : good information on human rights ethics Ethics Update : From the University of San Diego, a great source on literature, videos, scholarship and more. This site links to many topics: hunger, war, sexual orientation, gender, euthanasia, discrimination and more. Counterbalance Interactive Library: Counterbalance Interactive Library offers new views on complex issues from science, ethics, philosophy, and religion. Global Ethics: Global digital library on ethics providing users free access to full text versions of about 200 journals and more than a million documents.

Some Useful Websites

The Rights Philosophy Forum : good information on human rights ethics

Ethics Update : From the University of San Diego, a great source on literature, videos, scholarship and more. This site links to many topics: hunger, war, sexual orientation, gender, euthanasia, discrimination and more.

Counterbalance Interactive Library: Counterbalance Interactive Library offers new views on complex issues from science, ethics, philosophy, and religion.

Global Ethics: Global digital library on ethics providing users free access to full text versions of about 200 journals and more than a million documents.

Need a refresher on choosing the right website? Try this tutorial! Forgot how to evaluate websites?Try this tutorial

Need a refresher on choosing the right website? Try this tutorial!

Forgot how to evaluate websites?Try this tutorial

Avoiding Plagiarism

Cregan — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:14:48 CST

Merriam-Webster defines plagiarism as: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source. To commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

Merriam-Webster defines plagiarism as: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source. To commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

Get help from the following sites: CitingSources for examples of "In-Text Citations" and "Works Cited" APAStyle Help: from OWL MLAStyle Help: from OWL

Get help from the following sites:

CitingSources for examples of "In-Text Citations" and "Works Cited"

APAStyle Help: from OWL

MLAStyle Help: from OWL

Need a print copy of the MLA or APA? Ask at circulation for: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers Call Number: LB2369 .G53 Ask at circulation for: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association BF76.7.P82 Circulation has copies of all the style manuals. Here are the call numbers: CitingWebsitesandPrintSources

Need a print copy of the MLA or APA?

Ask at circulation for: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers Call Number: LB2369 .G53

Ask at circulation for: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
BF76.7.P82

Circulation has copies of all the style manuals. Here are the call numbers: CitingWebsitesandPrintSources

Forgot about citing sources? Use the tutorial below as a refresher! Citing Sources This tutorial is designed to help you cite sources properly and understand plagiarism.

Forgot about citing sources? Use the tutorial below as a refresher!

Citing Sources

This tutorial is designed to help you cite sources properly and understand plagiarism.

Find Books at Ramapo

Cregan — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:12:01 CST

Book Catalog:use this link to find Books, government documents, reserve items, music, movies and journal titles (NOT JOURNAL ARTICLES) in our library Search the catalog using keywords to find materials Write out a few keywords on your topics and enter them into the search box. Don't write out a sentence. You will get zero results. TIPS: ALWAYS go back and revise your searches. Look at your terms and think about alternative terms to use!! Start with broad searches!! Use the Subjects, etc... link in a catalog record to find more information on a specific subject area Click on the call numbers to "virtually browse" the library's shelves

Book Catalog:use this link to find Books, government documents, reserve items, music, movies and journal titles (NOT JOURNAL ARTICLES) in our library

Search the catalog using keywords to find materials
- Write out a few keywords on your topics and enter them into the search box.
- Don't write out a sentence. You will get zero results.

TIPS:

ALWAYS go back and revise your searches. Look at your terms and think about alternative terms to use!!
Start with broad searches!!
Use the Subjects, etc... link in a catalog record to find more information on a specific subject area
Click on the call numbers to "virtually browse" the library's shelves

Forgot what I showed you? Use the tutorial below as a refresher! Forgot how to search for books at Ramapo? Try this tutorial

Forgot what I showed you? Use the tutorial below as a refresher!

Forgot how to search for books at Ramapo? Try this tutorial

Find Journal Articles

Cregan — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:09:45 CST

The library subscribes to several databases that include hundreds of journal articles: They are available 24/7 ONLY to Ramapo students Off campus use requires login: Ramapo email and password A list of all the library Databases

The library subscribes to several databases that include hundreds of journal articles:

They are available 24/7 ONLY to Ramapo students
Off campus use requires login: Ramapo email and password
A list of all the library Databases

Some suggested databases for your projects:

General Databases
CQ Researcher	The CQ Researcher is a weekly publication providing original in-depth analysis of the most current major and controversial issues of the day with complete summaries, all the pros and cons, two bibliographies and more. Tip: Once in a report, use the "Issue Tracker" on the right side of the page to find related reports.
AcademicSearchPremier	A multi-disciplinary database containing both full-text articles and citations. Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
WilsonOmnifileMegaFull-Text	Over 4,000 journals. Coverage back as early as 1982 ensures that every search is as deep as it is broad. Users have access to information on virtually any subject. Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check for full text" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
JSTOR	Entirely full-text. Cannot email articles-email yourself the stable url. Tip: Do not print from browser print button. Use the JSTOR print option
Project Muse	Project MUSE offers full text, affordable access to current content from prestigious humanities and social sciences journals. Tip: All articles are Full Text
Philosophy Database
Philosopher's Index	Most thorough index of journal literature on the subject. NOT FULL TEXT Tip: Click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
History Databases
America:HistoryandLife	History of the United States and Canada from pre-history to the present. Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
HistoricalAbstracts	Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Medical Science Database
Health Management Journals	reliable and relevant information on a wide range of topics Tip: Use the Find a Copy link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Gender Databases
Gender Watch	GenderWatch is a full text database of unique and diverse publications that focus on how gender impacts a broad spectrum of subject areas. Tip: Use the Find a Copy link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Contemporary Women's Issues	A multidisciplinary, full-text database that brings together relevant content from mainstream periodicals, "gray" literature, and the alternative press Tip: Click on the icon for the full text
Social Sciences Databases
Criminal Justice Abstracts	Provides information on virtually any criminal justice topic, including corrections administration, law enforcement, social work, industrial security, drug rehabilitation, and criminal and family law. Tip: Use the Find a Copy link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Social Science Journals	Urban studies Family studies International relations Tip: Use the Find a Copy link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Sociological Abstracts	Sociological Abstracts indexes and abstracts the literature in sociology Tip: Use the Find a Copy link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.

Strategies for searching the databases Always switch to the Advance Search page in a database. This will give you more control over your results. Always use Boolean Operators-AND, OR, NOT when running a search. AND: narrows your search ex: war and iraq OR: broadens your search ex: (united states or america) and "vietnam war" and ethic? NOT: eliminates ex: "Iraq war" not "Desert Storm" Always go back and revise your searches! Look at using different terms and synonyms. For Example: I am interested in writing a paper on just and unjust wars. What are some of the moral arguments? Look at some historical examples. my FIRST search might be: "just war" and moral OR history and "unjust war" and "moral argument" DON'T STOP here! Revise your searches and use the results to find other material Revised Search: I want to focus on moral argument behind vietnam. What are the similarities to the present war in Iraq? my NEXT search: (comparison or similar?) and vietnam and iraq and moral? Always check your Spelling if the database results are Zero. To look for full-text use the: check availablity at Ramapo, primary catalog, or check availability links in the databases Use the Subject Terms or Thesaurus link in databases to find the best search terms to use

Strategies for searching the databases

Always switch to the Advance Search page in a database. This will give you more control over your results.
Always use Boolean Operators-AND, OR, NOT when running a search.
- AND: narrows your search ex: war and iraq
- OR: broadens your search ex: (united states or america) and "vietnam war" and ethic?
- NOT: eliminates ex: "Iraq war" not "Desert Storm"

Always go back and revise your searches! Look at using different terms and synonyms.
For Example: I am interested in writing a paper on just and unjust wars. What are some of the moral arguments? Look at some historical examples.

my FIRST search might be: "just war" and moral OR history and "unjust war" and "moral argument"
DON'T STOP here! Revise your searches and use the results to find other material
Revised Search: I want to focus on moral argument behind vietnam. What are the similarities to the present war in Iraq?
my NEXT search: (comparison or similar?) and vietnam and iraq and moral?

Always check your Spelling if the database results are Zero.

To look for full-text use the: check availablity at Ramapo, primary catalog, or check availability links in the databases
Use the Subject Terms or Thesaurus link in databases to find the best search terms to use

Forgot what I showed you? Use the tutorial below as a refresher! Forgot how to use the library databases? Try this tutorial

Forgot what I showed you? Use the tutorial below as a refresher!

Forgot how to use the library databases? Try this tutorial

Find Books from Other Libraries

Cregan — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:48:29 CST

Good researchers need to be creative! Find and Borrow books from other New Jersey State Colleges Catalog: use this link to locate material at other NJ academic libraries. Several NJ College libraries participate in a reciprocal borrowing program You can go to any participating library and borrow the book Just visit our reference desk first to get a form before you go!

Good researchers need to be creative!

Find and Borrow books from other New Jersey State Colleges

Catalog: use this link to locate material at other NJ academic libraries.
Several NJ College libraries participate in a reciprocal borrowing program
You can go to any participating library and borrow the book
Just visit our reference desk first to get a form before you go!

Here is a list of catalog's for the closest libraries:

William Paterson: Cheng Library

Montclair University: Sprague Library

Rutgers University: Iris and other catalogs

Seton Hall University: SetonCAT

Find and Interlibrary Loan any books/articles you find You can use any library or web catalog you come across For Example: Open WorldCat is a catalog of thousands of books/material and tells you who owns it Don't worry about where it's coming from. WE WILL TRY AND GET IT FOR YOU! Use Interlibrary Loan to request the material (remember to give yourself time!)

Find and Interlibrary Loan any books/articles you find

You can use any library or web catalog you come across
For Example: Open WorldCat is a catalog of thousands of books/material and tells you who owns it
Don't worry about where it's coming from. WE WILL TRY AND GET IT FOR YOU!
Use Interlibrary Loan to request the material (remember to give yourself time!)

Reference Books

Cregan — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:40:08 CST

Choosing a Topic Selecting a topic for a research paper or project can be very challenging. You will want to select a topic that is of interest to you. This will make the research , reading and writing less of a chore.(TIP: Starting with a broad topic makes it is easier to eliminate information as you start writing.) It is a good idea to wait to decide on a topic until you do some preliminary searching for books, articles, and web-based resources. If you can't find enough, you will want the flexibility to select a new topic. A great start to preliminary research is browing the REFERENCE SECTION in the library (located on the 3rd floor).

Choosing a Topic

Selecting a topic for a research paper or project can be very challenging. You will want to select a topic that is of interest to you. This will make the research , reading and writing less of a chore.(TIP: Starting with a broad topic makes it is easier to eliminate information as you start writing.) It is a good idea to wait to decide on a topic until you do some preliminary searching for books, articles, and web-based resources. If you can't find enough, you will want the flexibility to select a new topic. A great start to preliminary research is browing the REFERENCE SECTION in the library (located on the 3rd floor).

Suggested Reference Sources
Encyclopedia of Science, Technology and Ethics	online
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy	online
Ethics	Ref BJ63.E54 2004
Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics	Ref BL31.E44
Biomedical Ethics: Opposing Viewpoints	Ref H31.O62 B61 1994
Encyclopedia of Values and Ethics	Ref BJ63.H47 1996
Medical Ethics	Ref H31.C97 M48
Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints	Ref H31.O62.E91 2000
Encyclopedia of Ethics	Ref BJ63.E54 2001
Ethics in U.S. Government: an encyclopedia of investigations, scandals, reforms, and legislations	Ref JK468.E7 R556 2001
Physician-Assisted Suicide	Ref H31.O62 P70
Encyclopedia of Women and Gender: sex similarities and differences and the impact of society on gender	Ref HQ1115.E43 2001
Euthanasia: the moral issues	Ref 726.E294 1989
Michigan v Kevorkian: the ethics of assisted suicide	Ref BJ 352 .M534 2002
Oxford Handbook of Practical Ethics	Ref BJ 1031.O94 2003
Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics	Ref BJ 63.E44